I could also write about cartoons on the recent cases of sexual abuse at German Catholic schools. But then I would have to write about how the cartoons mostly perpetuate century-old Protestant stereotypes about Catholic priests. And there’s no need to do that.
Then I could write about the German goverment buying stolen data about tax evaders. I doubt, however, that this would be interesting to any of our non-German readers. But I just have to show this cartoon. I think this a great gag and after all the media coverage on Pirate Bay it should work for a relatively large number of people despite its geekiness.
In the end, I decided just complain about how that toonpool.com staff member posting stuff on facebook stole my ideas for the “Cartoons of Interest” section. First the Mondrian and then that novelty cartoon about 3D glasses. But you haven’t thought of The Bobble, Brain Access or the Elephant Busker. And you totally missed Exploding Charlie Chaplin. Because it has been posted TODAY! In your face, mysterious toonpool.com staff member.
Introducing…
New member Kamil Yavuz is from Istanbul. He has created great collage-style portraits of Turkish politicians. The first one is definitely made from pieces of meat. Or so I think. His other work is more traditional – mostly coloured pencil drawings and water colors. I liked the massive cigarette, the astronomical tuba and the tiny knife. Or the over-sized USB plug – depending on your perspective.
Cartoons of Interest
I found a cartoon that’s even better than the ones I listed above. The man says: “Sometimes I think you’re just after my money.”
Paul Hellmich
]]>Although there is a steady supply of cartoons on the war in Afghanistan (there, I said it), there have been surprisingly few on Thursday’s International Conference in London. In fact, there are only two cartoons directly concerned with the conference, both of them by Afghan cartoonist Shahid Atiqullah. It seems that Apple Computer’s new gadget, the iPad, has inspired more artists (1,2,3,4,5,6). Probably that’s because the whole Afghanistan business doesn’t really offer new topics – see this week’s Cartoons of Interest section.
A few more cartoons have been done on Barack Obama’s first year in office. And – with a varying degree of schadenfreude – they all paint a pretty gloomy picture. There is Tjeerd Royaards’ explosive cake, Klaus Stuttmann’s gory magic show, Fredy Rodriguez’ new version of the campaign slogan and Joel Barbee’s dead fish.
Introducing…
David Toth is from Budapest. He does amazing illustrations (take this flyer, the diving bell guy or this lab scene) as well as narrative bits that, as far as I can see often include chicken (here & here). They make me wish I had taken Hungarian instead of French. If anyone feels like translating: I would love to learn about the mystery behind this couple’s conversation, the lab assistant’s mumbled curses or the word’s spoken at Snow White’s funeral.
It was Thomas Hollnack’s cardboard cut out-like mutant deer that got me in the first place. They say it knows eternity, and who am I to argue. The old-school dinosaur is a bit too adorable for my taste but it’s probably abest-selling geek shirt. Thomas also does nice cartoons about piranhas and the vegetarian option or busy stones. The latter reminded me of Volkertoon’s “Steine” (relatively language neutral strips: here, here & here.
Cartoons of Interest
This cartoon by Rodrigo was published originally on December 25 2009. It still works a month later and probably would have worked any time during the last five years. Strictly speaking it’s a Christmas cartoon (I just now noticed that the bomber is leaving “ho ho ho” vapor trails). But you don’t need an occasion to give away presents. I just love the boy’s face. And the fathers face. And the GI’s face…This cartoon is such a nice and absurd commentary on the whole “more troops” business. I am sure that there is a considerable number of Afghan people who would welcome “more troops” and soldiers are cool as long as you are not too closely involved in their soldiering business. Which I fear a lot of people in Afghanistan are. On the other hand, the outcome of this policy is just as uncertain as “less troops”, “exactly the same amount of troops” or “more engineers” would have been. To me, the GI’s face reflects the uncertainty individual soldiers must feel upon arrival. Just like Christmas puppies.